Open Letter: Why Portland should care about #UMCGC

Prepare for Oregon’s biggest religious convention of the year

To the people of Portland,

For 10 days in May, the city of Portland will be the focus of 12 million Christians worldwide who are part of The United Methodist Church. But even Portlanders normally apathetic about religion should care what happens during those 10 days because it has global consequences on climate change, LGBTQ equality, and other social justice concerns.

It all began on May 10 at the Oregon Convention Center when the denomination’s General Conference started, an event that is held only every four years. Over 850 delegates representing over 50 countries are voting on potential changes in doctrine and policies. In total, we expect 3,000 people to eat, study, advocate, experience the May MAX train delays, and finally vote in Portland from May 10-20.

The United Methodist Church (UMC) is the only global Protestant (non-Catholic) denomination in the world, and General Conference is unique in its worldwide makeup, authority, and influence. We have no Pope or leader other than these 850 delegates who make decisions by majority vote.

Incredible Effects Beyond Church Walls

These majority votes have incredible consequences beyond church walls:

The UMC owns over $600 million in fossil fuel stocks and bonds. A vote to divest and reinvest in clean energy would jumpstart efforts to reverse climate change.

The UMC officially does not support same-gender weddings (or as we in Portland call them, weddings) or employ out gay clergy. A vote to reverse that would do wonders for LGBTQ youth who continue to be told an outdated belief (added in 1972) that our church doesn’t accept them.

The UMC has been a longtime advocate for reproductive choice, undocumented workers, women’s equality, labor laws, and other concerns. If groups seeking to reverse or dilute our stances prevail, it would diminish our financial and personnel support of these social justice organizations.

United in Diversity

I hope my fellow Portlanders pay attention to what happens because they have real-world effects. While my local UMC church in SW Portland has embraced LGBTQ equality, climate protections, and social justice initiatives for decades, not all Methodists are like Portland Methodists.

We hope you come watch, advocate, pray, send kind thoughts, or just be reminded that religious institutions do matter in the world, and let’s all be hopeful that this one still does too.

Sincerely,

Rev. Jeremy Smith @umjeremyAssociate Pastor,
First United Methodist Church of Portland (fumcpdx.org)

Comments

“The United Methodist Church (UMC) is the only global Protestant (non-Catholic) denomination in the world …” Only??? I think there are a lot of intricate and, to the general reader, abstract polity-based assumptions in this “only” claim that may be technically correct but totally misleading to the general public. Sorry to pick this nit. 🙂

It would be easier to “care about General Conference” if the system of General Conference legislation had any prospect of accomplishing anything at all, let alone anything important or useful. The worship and conversations apart from legislation are the value. And the struggles with rule 44 seem to indicate that we’re scared to have conversations.

Jeremy, Wanted to share an “open letter” from Rev. Eldon Reed, a 91-year-old minister from the Texas Annual Conference with over 73 years of service in The United Methodist Church. This is a heartfelt message he has shared with General Conference delegates, calling for the acceptance and inclusion of gay ministers and congregants in all United Methodist churches.

UMC: Open the Doors Wide

I have been a pastor in the United Methodist Church for 73 years and am concerned about the current controversy regarding sexual orientation in our denomination. Some are saying that the Bible is the absolute, infallible word of God and point to several references against same sex relationships and marriage.

If the Bible is the absolute infallible Word of God, what about currently outdated parts in the Bible? King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. How about slavery? It was condoned and practiced in ancient societies and for hundreds of years in our own country. If you were found to be working on the Sabbath, you would be stoned to death. How about women preaching the gospel? In I Corinthians it states in the 14th chapter that women were to be silent in churches.

Some would argue that people who engage in same sex relationships are moral degenerates, have lost God’s favor, are living in sin and do not deserve to be accepted in the church as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Scientific and medical research suggests a genetic predisposition for sexual orientation. Being gay and living the gay “lifestyle” is typically not an intentional choice. As Christians, we need to honor the birthright that is unique to each individual.

It might be a good time to hear what Jesus said long ago about same-sex relationships: Nothing.

But Jesus did say, as recorded in Matthew 7:1, “Judge not that you be not judged.” And best of all as recorded by Mark 12:30 and 31, “You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all of your soul, and with all of your mind, and with all of your strength. The second is this, ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

It is ironic and disturbing that Christian churches have not been out front in promoting these specific human rights. In our own country it took hundreds of years and finally an insane, horrible war to free African Americans. On June 15, 1924, by act of Congress, all Native Americans were finally considered to be citizens. And on August 18, 1920, women were at last given the right to vote.

Many churches now citing an historic understanding of the Bible are not opening their doors and hearts to millions of Americans. It is time to unlock those doors, open them wide, and throw away the key.

As usual Eldon L. Reed is misquoting scripture and taking scripture out of context; anything to justified his own personal beliefs. It would help if you people who enjoy this type of argument would find out exactly what the Hebrew translations of these verses actually say and mean but, of course that would take to much effort, it is much easier to quote popular and personal opinions. What ever is right is not always popular and what ever is popular is not always right.